"Kanazawa Ward Reading Activity Promotion Goals"

"Ordinance about promotion of reading activity of Yokohama citizen" was established in June, 2013 and came into effect on April 1, 2014.
In Kanazawa Ward, we will set goals for promoting reading activities that take advantage of the characteristics of the ward and promote reading activities.

※"Kanazawa Ward Reading Activity Promotion Goal" can also be viewed in a PDF file.
→"Kanazawa Ward Reading Activity Promotion Target" (PDF: 3,900KB)

• About concrete approach for reading activity promotion

Get acquainted with books, connect through books, and like Kanazawa more.

Through introduction of reading-related facilities in ward, we push forward environment creation that anyone from infants to the elderly can get close to reading.

• We introduce facilities in the ward where you can read and borrow books, regular reading activities, etc. on a map, and support you to enjoy reading in your familiar living area.
• We will promote the creation of opportunities for infants to touch books, such as story-telling sessions that parents and children can participate in. In addition, we will raise interest in reading through lectures and special exhibitions.
• We will further promote reading support services for people with disabilities (large print books, enlarged reading devices, face-to-face readings, etc.) and introduction of foreign language materials to support a society that fosters diversity.

We send local reading activity and increase opportunity to get close to reading and support interchange and "connection" of volunteer active in area.

• We utilize reading day and reading activity month and send reading activity carried out in various facilities in ward including story-telling party or lecture and push forward the making of opportunity to get close to reading.
• We carry out lectures for volunteers involved in reading activities, such as reading stories and book repairs, and promote initiatives that can be enjoyed by the leaders of the activities themselves.
• We will set up a place for information exchange and networking, such as liaison meetings for reading-related facilities and exchanges between reading volunteers, and promote "connections" through books.
• Focusing on libraries, schools, homes, reading facilities, childcare facilities, and volunteer groups will deepen cooperation, and schools, homes, and communities will work together to raise interest in reading.

Through reading, we will increase opportunities to experience the history, culture and nature of Kanazawa Ward and discover the charm of Kanazawa Ward.

• The library's "Kanazawa Ward Corner" will be further enhanced to introduce the artists and works related to Kanazawa.
• Using familiar tools such as picture-story shows, we will provide opportunities to experience the history, nature, and folk tales of Kanazawa Ward.
• We call for donation of materials issued by schools, facilities, companies, and groups in the city, and collect and read as valuable materials to know the area.

• Reading activities are important in learning words, improving sensibilities, enhancing expressiveness, creativity, etc., or enriching them, and acquiring the ability to live a deeper life.
  Based on this philosophy, the "Ordinance on Promotion of Reading Activities of Yokohama Citizens" was enacted in June 2013 and came into effect on April 1, 2014.
• As duty of city, we devise measure about promotion of citizen's book-reading activity and carry out. In addition, in carrying out measure, we establish goal to plan promotion of reading activity according to locality of ward.
• We deepen citizen's interest and understanding about reading activity and, for promotion of reading activity, assume 23rd of every month day of citizen's reading day and assume November every year as citizen's reading activity promotion month.

• We surveyed the status of reading activities at elementary and junior high schools, facilities (district centers, community houses), Yokohama City University, Kanto Gakuin University, and Kanazawabunko Prefectural.
• The Kanazawa Ward Reading Activity Promotion Liaison Conference was set up by staff from schools, residents' facilities, libraries, and ward offices to examine the draft targets.
• We announced draft of target and raised opinions from inhabitants of a ward during period from January 26, 2015 to February 16.

• The Kanazawa Library has about 160,000 books. Books not in the Kanazawa Library can be ordered from the entire Yokohama City Library and public libraries in Kanagawa Prefecture. In addition to lending to individuals, we also provide group lending and group lending.
• We carry out various businesses such as storytelling sessions for children, introductory lectures for reading activity volunteers (book repair and story-telling, etc.), and lectures.

• The assignment of school librarians to all elementary schools, junior high schools, and special needs schools in Yokohama City has improved the function of the library and made it easier for children to get closer to books. Activities such as reading stories by parents and volunteers are also conducted.
• Some elementary schools have a "citizen library" and lend books.
• Municipal nursery schools and some private nursery schools lend picture books to parents and children who are raising children in the area.

• There is a book corner at the district center, community house, welfare center for the elderly, and some community care plazas, where you can browse and borrow books. Inhabitant of a ward use facility in ward, we hold talk sessions by volunteer regularly.

• Issuance of a citizen use card (Yokohama City University) / use certificate (Kanto Gakuin University) valid for one year by presenting identification documents for the purpose of surveys and research, for those aged 20 or older who live or work in the prefecture (paid) ), You can use the library browsing and lending service.

• There are five specialized libraries that can be used for general use in the ward, and these libraries store a large number of materials in specific fields. Except for the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, we do not provide rental services, but open collections can be viewed freely.

• Reading volunteers are active at various facilities in the city, such as elementary and junior high schools, district centers, community houses, child care support facilities, elderly welfare facilities, and zoos. Reading groups such as picture-story shows and story-telling are registered at the Kanazawa Ward Residents' Activities Center, District Centers and Community House.

[Inquiry]
Kanazawa Ward General Affairs Department Regional Promotion Division (Tel: 788-7804, Fax: 788-1937)
Kanazawa Library (Phone: 784-5861, Fax: 781-2521)